Rick Springfield talks NJ music, 'General Hospital' and Basie show with Richard Marx

Rick Springfield knows Jersey talent.

Springfield, who plays Thursday, Jan. 18, at the Count Basie Center of the Arts in Red Bank with Richard Marx, has a unique track record of working with New Jersey musicians throughout his career.

That includes the late Bernie Worrell of Long Branch, whose foundational work on keyboards in Parliament-Funkadelic, the Talking Heads and more brought funk and rock music into another orbit.

Springfield and Worrell were both cast members in the 2015 movie “Ricki and the Flash.”

“Bernie was super spiritual and very kind and not what I expected at all, having come from Funkadelic and all that stuff,” Springfield said. “I thought he’d be a real wild guy but he was incredibly centered and sweet and grounded."

Springfield, and “Ricki and the Flash” lead Meryl Streep and others, attended a benefit for the ailing Worrell in April of 2016 in New York City. Worrell passed away soon afterward.

Springfield has worked professionally with vocalist Asia Luckey of Franklin Township and the late Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band. Springfield and Clemons teamed on the pilot of the ABC-TV show “Human Target” in 1992.

In the big '80s, Springfield tapped Jace Smith of Ocean Township, whose band Max were regulars at the Stone Pony, for his live band, and Bob Chirmside, Bruce Springsteen's former road manager, for his security detail.

“(Jace) was very similar musically and I've stayed in touch with him through the years,” Springfield said. “He's just a real sweet guy who didn't think he'd live past 35. He used to do all the weird (stuff) on the road. We were in Hong King and he went down Snake Alley, and drank some cobra blood, and he ate fugu and poison fish in Japan and he was a super heavy drinker.

"As we get older we want to stay alive and we back off a lot of the things that could possibly kill us.”

Springfield's journey was detailed in his critically acclaimed autobiography, “Late, Late at Night.”

The rocker's done it all, including a stint on “General Hospital” when it was the biggest show on TV in the early '80s. Elizabeth Taylor was a fan, and she appeared on several episodes.

“She said 'Oh my God!' when she saw me and I did the same thing to because she’s Elizabeth Taylor,” Springfield said.

The Hollywood icon guested on “GH” in 1981, and her character crashed the ballyhooed wedding of Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura (Genie Francis). The show at the time also featured the work of a young Demi Moore.

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Springfield, an Australian native, played Dr. Noah Drake on the soap.

“You take it just as a natural thing when you’re caught up in it,” Springfield said. “You're not standing off to the side saying 'Hey, this is pretty (blanking) wild.' You're just a part of what's going on. I had the music thing going, that was more important to me than what was going on with the show.

"That was serendipitous, an aligning of the stars that we were all on it at the same time when it became the biggest show on television. That was the high point of soaps. It was pretty amazing.”

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Springfield's hits include “Jessie’s Girl,” “Affair of the Heart,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “Love Somebody” and “Human Touch.” He and Richard Marx will perform all their hits at the Basie stop of their unique and intimate tour. The show also hits the St. George Theatre on Staten Island on Friday, Jan. 12.

“I thought it would make more sense for us to be on the stage the whole time together, goofing around and playing each other’s songs,” Springfield, 74, said. “We're playing each other’s songs with gay, witty repartee.”

Go: Rick Springfield and Richard Marx, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $35 to $99; thebasie.org.

Cole Hallman at the Stone Pony

Cole Hallman, who headlines Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, is no stranger to the venue.

“This show is super special to me personally because I used to be a barback at the Stone Pony Summer Stage in 2019,” said Hallman via email. “I’ve always wanted to headline here.”

The Manasquan native was also a noted contestant on “American Idol” early last year. He made it to Hollywood Week on the show.

Since then, he's released an album, the very appealing “Good Morning Mr. Hallman,”

“For people who don’t know me, my music could be described as coastal folk rock,” Hallman said. “I like to think we got a little bit of everything. The set will consist of original music, some of my favorite covers, and awesome musicianship from my bandmates.”

Kevian Kraemer, also a Manasquan native, and Kieran Rhodes are opening.

Go: Cole Hallman with Kevian Kraemer and Kieran Rhodes, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan 13, Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. $20; stoneponyonline.com.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; cjordan@app.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Rick Springfield talks New Jersey music, General Hospital and more